On the DBMA Assn forum there has been some discussion about stick length at the Ggs. Someone raised the question of KK sticks being substantially longer (somewhere in the 36-39" range) than the usual FMA stick (30" being a typical length at Ggs) and proffered the notion of "cumulative length" i.e. that a 5-6' staff was the functional equivalent of two 36" KK sticks.

On the DBMA Assn forum there has been some discussion about stick length at the Ggs. Someone raised the question of KK sticks being substantially longer (somewhere in the 36-39" range) than the usual FMA stick (30" being a typical length at Ggs) and proffered the notion of "cumulative length" i.e. that a 5-6' staff was the functional equivalent of two 36" KK sticks.

Thoughts?

Crafty Dog

Never cared for" Dueling" with matching weapons. Can't we stick closer to the era of "GLADIATORS" and embrace the challenges of variables such as this?

Sticks should vary as much as we do as humans.

MHO KD

Every mans wood size varies, its just natural. Its not the size its how you use itlol

I understood the gist of the point to be that there should be no complaints of staff vs. double KK being unfair.

It's about as unfair as any other mixed weapon fight

I've never heard anyone complain about a mixed weapon fight, be it stick v staff/3-section/nunchaka/etc. I've always been of the opinion that if you were willing to agree to it (and there was no underhand trickery) then there's nothing to complain about if you get whacked.

Looking forward to spectator seating this year. I will be there in any role Crafty deems necessary. Bringing whats remaining in the med bag. I hope to be able to view more fighting this way but as it is w my Marines. "Through the gates of hell for a Wounded DOG BROTHER". (Tail wags)

Woof Kaju Dog - Very pleased (and relieved) to hear that you will be there. I will be fighting and it is hard to transition between roles. I got a small taste of that at the Tribal, and it wasn't easy, much respect for your years of watching out for your brothers. Gave me a better appreciation of combat medics, and that was with no one shooting at us!

Woof Kaju Dog - Very pleased (and relieved) to hear that you will be there. I will be fighting and it is hard to transition between roles. I got a small taste of that at the Tribal, and it wasn't easy, much respect for your years of watching out for your brothers. Gave me a better appreciation of combat medics, and that was with no one shooting at us!

ALCON: In addition to good foot and personal hygiene supplies, please consider medical / sports tape,zip lock bags for ice packs and dirty wet wipes trash. Seran wrap is great for short term use in a variety of ways and a gym towel for keeping the gym floor in your immediate areas dry/ clean. Im bringing what I have and while supplies last, sharing with wounded warriors PRN

Woof,KD aka" Doc" ... "Devil Doc" that issss

Any volunteers want to help, please see me first or join me with Crafty Dog's blessing. I am not a doctor but have treated many a wounded warrior while operating under a licensed physician in the USN/USMC. SEMPER FI

Start Hydrating now if you wait till the day of, it's too late. Look for clear urine output. Avoid taking supplements that can dehydrate your body. Also avoid taking Ibuprofen/ Motrin and other things that thin the blood, making hemorrhage control more difficult and internal bleeding more serious. Just some kibble

We are well over 60 fighters; barring a last minute epidemic of vaginitis, this will be the biggest Open Gathering ever.

congrats Guro C!

------------

To the Fighters:

Have fun, be safe, and may the experience transform your Consciousness!

Very truly yours in the MA and SD,

~sg

Logged

"A good stickgrappler has good stick skills, good grappling, and good stickgrappling and can keep track of all three simultaneously. This is a good trick and can be quite effective." - Marc "Crafty Dog" Denny

69 fighters is outstanding. My hope is that at least some will buy Dog Brothers Individual 1st Aid kits. It has all the contents one would desire for self help if injured. My supplies are limited but available as needed. It's highly encouraged that you hit up the DB Online shop.

PS

I will be happy to answer any questions and show anyone who buys a DB med kit how it all works...

Awesome day yesterday!!! Great fights and lots of respect and friendship. Wish I could have fought more still walking limp due to my pain on the lower back all the way down to my left foot caused by a good hit. There's alwyas next year... Thank you my Brother Kaju Dog for fixing me up LOL.. Thank You C-Might Dog for getting me up from the mat while i was down in pain. Got some little bruises too but can be fixed . In all it was a great time. Thanks to my new brother jason Laird for a great knife and stick fight, looking forward to go at it with you next year. Gibby, my apologies, but next time we're on brother. Dog Brothers!!! Yeah!!! God bless all.

Jesus: Releasing the psoas, quads, and calves often does wondrous things for back pain, regardless of the apparent cause. I can't say why, but I can say in my experience that is the way it is. Not to say that qualified help is or is not required, just saying releasing those things usually seems to help a lot.

All:

As always the next day is a swirl of images in my head. One of the many moments that caught my attention was the IFWA (in fight weapon access) not once but twice by Eric T. of his drone trainer. To be able to open a knife under pressure of an attack is a hugely overlooked skill, and to be able to do it with stickfighting gloves on, even ones as thin as Eric's, is really quite a trick.

I agree that there wasn't a lot of chatter which surprised me. I studiously avoided it this year to keep my anxiety level down. Maybe others did the same. Plus, after fretting about it for nearly a year, by the time chattering season started, I was so tired of thinking about the Gathering.

WHAT A GATHERING!!!!! Thanks to GC, staff, fighters and spectators for making it such a great event. It was great to see everyone and meet new friends. I arrived late due to the fact that I missed my flight, but everyone was very welcoming upon my arrival and I was able to jump right in. Thanks to Nick (Pappy Dog) and Toki (C-Mighty Dog) for the fights. The two of you are awesome fighters and it was an honor to fight both of you. As always, I learn from each fight and always want to continue an grow. I couldn't make the after party..haha. Didn't want to miss my flight again! Lastly, there were a lot of great fights witnessed yesterday. I was able to gained even more knowledge as a spectator when I wasn't preparing to fight. Also, thanks to Kaju Dog for the medical support. Without that, our warriors would be out of the fight. Kaju Dog was able to patch guys up and send them back out. Now, those are WARRIORS!

Even though I am no longer an active fighter, a Gathering still puts me in the altered space in the following days. It is a space and a vibration I hold onto as best as I can for as long as I can.

Today I went for my conditioning routine at Bluff Cove. It is a wondrous spot; our Creator was in a good mood when he made it. Today the waves were good (one of the surfers explained to me that there is only about a 10 degree angle at which the swell works for this cove due to Catalina Island and the Palos Verdes peninsula itself) and the surfers were many. Though the temperature was in the upper 70s and nary a cloud was in the sky, in a subtle way there was a hint of autumn in the air.

With images of the floating through my head, the four round trips down and up passed by effortlessly. When I was done I sat for a time looking out over the kelp beds and out into the vastness of the ocean and went silent.

But now that the Open is over and we are taking stock and setting goals, I thought this is important enough to post here as a postlude. The finish of one Gathering marks the start of preparation for the next, so...... The Tribal is indescribable.....so different than the Open. It is truly not to be missed. I can not put it into words, but EVERY fighter who is not a tribe member should be aspiring and every one who is a tribe member and has gone....let me put it this way. I don't get chatter before the Open anymore. I ALREADY have chatter for the Tribal Challenging C-Yo Dog and Mongolian Dog probably have something to do with that, but that's the kind of people you fight EVERY FIGHT. There are NO junk fights. Plus, it counts as 2 gatherings toward advancement (each day is separate). Mark your calendars now and start planning for May because the Tribal is the NUTS! Hope to see you there! MAke it a priority and TRAIN! Woof!C Dr Dog